SERIES E --- YHVH’S LAWS --- LESSON 09

THE LEVITES CONSECRATED

THE DUTIES OF THE LEVITES

From Numbers 8

Tell Aaron to place the lamps on the lampstand so that the light will shine forward when he lights them, Adonai told Moses. Aaron did as Adonai Instructed him. The lampstand was made of hammered gold, from its base to its floral decorations, exactly as Adonai had directed Moses to make it. Separate the Levites from the other people of Israel, Adonai Commanded Moses. Sprinkle the purifying water over them and have them shave their entire bodies with razors. Have them wash themselves and their clothes so they will be completely clean. Tell the Levites to bring a young bull and a grain offering of fine flour mixed with oil, as well as another young bull for a sin offering. When you bring the Levites to the doorway to the tabernacle where all the people can see them, have the leaders of the tribes place their hands upon them. Aaron shall present the Levites before Adonai as a wave offering, a gift from the people of Israel. They will serve Adonai on behalf of all the people. Then the leaders of the Levites shall place their hands on the heads of the bulls and offer one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering to Adonai to make atonement for all the Levites. After that the Levites shall be brought to Aaron and his sons and offered as a wave offering to Adonai. In this ceremony you shall separate the Levites from the rest of the people and they shall be Mine. After you have cleansed them and offered them as a wave offering, they will serve in the tabernacle. They will be Mine instead of the firstborn, for I have claimed the Levites in their place. The firstborn of the people of Israel are Mine, both men and animals, for I consecrated them and set them apart for My service on the day I destroyed the firstborn in the land of Egypt. However, I have taken the Levites as a substitute for the firstborn among the people of Israel. I have presented the Levites to Aaron and his sons from among the people of Israel, to serve the people in the tabernacle and to make atonement for them. Thus there will be no plague among the people of Israel, which might occur should some of them come too close to the tabernacle. Moses, Aaron, and all of the people did exactly what Adonai commanded them to do. After the Levites purified themselves from sin and washed their clothes, Aaron presented them to Adonai as a wave offering. Then he made atonement for them to cleanse them. When the entire ceremony was over, the Levites went into the tabernacle to assist Aaron and his sons, as Adonai Commanded Moses. Everything was done exactly as Adonai Commanded. The Levites shall serve in the tabernacle from the ages twenty-five to fifty, Adonai said. At that time, they will retire from active service and will help their fellow Levites in the tabernacle work, but without full-time assignments.

COMMENTARY

MILESTONES OF LIFE

The Israelites marked the milestones of life differently from people of today. A newborn infant, after being washed in warm water, was rubbed with salt to toughen it and protect it from disease. It was then wrapped from head to foot in strips of cloth. Family and friends rejoiced if the baby was a boy, but the father was silent and the mother ashamed if it was a girl. After eight days, boys were circumcised. All babies were nursed at the breast for three years. When that ended, childhood almost came to an end. Girls were taught household duties and took care of the younger children. They were given almost no education. By the age of twelve, they were ready for marriage and motherhood. Boys were given a strict religious education starting at age three. By ten years old, they began to learn their father’s trade. At thirteen, a wife was selected and marriage was the next step. The wedding celebration took a week, after which the newlyweds started life as fully-grown adults. Children came soon. They were required to care for their parents in old age. Children continued the race and were their parents’ living memorial.